Tips to Save Costs at the Gas Pump

The United States has reached an all-time high with gas prices averaging $4.00 per gallon. Below is information provided by the Alliance to Save Energy in hopes to cut gasoline costs.

Before Hitting the Road…

• Keep tires properly inflated. Properly inflated tires are safer, last longer, and can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent.
• Use the recommended grade of motor oil. Improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Select motor oil with “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol. It contains friction-reducing additives.
• Keep your engine properly tuned. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by about 4 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. DOE adds that replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve gas mileage up to 40 percent!
• Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing a clogged or dirty air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, according to DOE, and keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine.
• Plan ahead for the shortest, most gas-saving itinerary. With a little planning, you can not only save fuel, but wear and tear on your car as well. Avoid retracing your route to reduce the distance you travel. Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multi-stop trip of the same distance with a warm engine.
• If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible. Do you really need that SUV for trips to the video store?
  Once You’re Behind the Wheel…

• Don’t speed! Gas mileage declines rapidly above 60 mph. Each 5 mph increase above 60 is like paying an additional 10 cents a gallon for gasoline.
• Road rage costs. Aggressive driving – speeding, rapid acceleration, rapid braking – wastes gas and can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent in town. Nix jack-rabbit starts in favor of slow acceleration from a dead stop. Sensible driving also is safer for you and others – so you may save more than gas money.
• Avoid excessive idling, which gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines usually waste more gas while idling than those with smaller engines.
• Take advantage of cruise control. Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, save gas.Use your overdrive gears to lower engine speed, save gas, and reduce engine wear.

Think Before You Commute…

• Stagger your work hours, if possible, to avoid peak rush hours. You’ll spend less time sitting in traffic, consume less fuel, and avoid additional stress.
• Take advantage of available carpools and ride-share programs. Sharing your commute with others cuts weekly fuel costs, reduces wear on your car, and may allow you to use less-congested High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.
• Consider public transportation. Check the American Public Transportation Association’s website for local information (www.apta.com/links/state_local/).
• Consider telecommuting – working from home – if and when possible.

Taking a Trip?

• It’s a “drag.” Avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof. A loaded roof rack or carrier increases aerodynamic drag, which can cut mileage by 5 percent. Place items inside the trunk whenever possible to improve your fuel economy.
• Travel light. Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car’s fuel economy 1-2 percent.
• When renting a car, ask for a model that gets better fuel economy. Also, remember to fill up the tank before returning the car to the rental company, which always charges much higher gas prices – and perhaps even an extra gas surcharge.

Craving that “New Car” Smell?

• When buying a new vehicle, think high gas mileage. Check out the DOE website ( www.fueleconomy.gov) and the ACEEE website (www.greenercars.com) for information on fuel-efficient vehicles. Learn about current electric drive vehicles on the Electric Drive Transportation Association website (www.electricdrive.org).
• Consider purchasing a hybrid, which can provide a $1,500 tax deduction this year. Consumer Reports says that in its tests, the redesigned Toyota Prius hybrid – which gets 44 mpg with near-zero emissions – outscored four midsized family sedans and finished sixth out of 15 similarly priced sedans. The consumer magazine named the Prius its “Top Pick” in the Green Car category.

And Finally…

• Get your exercise! Whenever possible, walk or bike to your destination. You’ll lose weight, lower stress, save gas, and reduce pollution.

Dawn Pratt, REALTOR®. – Proudly serving the East Orlando Communities of Waterford Lakes, Waterford Chase, Avalon Park, Avalon Lakes, Eastwood, Stoneybrook, and Timber Springs.
Please visit www.EastOrlandoLife.com for all your real estate needs.

Home-Made Deer Repellent

My family and I love the idea of deer in our backyard, but for those of you that are more interested in saving your plants, here is an easy home made recipe that really works to repel deer for at least 1 month.

20% water, 80% egg yolk (remove membrane from yolk first), and add garlic powder. Real Simple.

This solution sprayed on your vegetation will also repel rabbits, raccoons, skunks and other veggie-loving critters.

FCAT 2008 Writing Scores are in for East Orlando

For those of you interested in the statistics, I have posted the writing score results for the 2008 FCAT. All schools in 32828 East Orlando have scored above the state’s average.

East Orlando Elementary Schools:
2008 Grade 4 State Average: 61%
Andover-  78%
Avalon-  78%
Bonneville-  72%
Camelot-  62%
Castle Creek-  59%
Columbia-  62%
Riverdale-  54%
Stone Lakes-  66%
Sunrise-  84%
Waterford-  59%

East Orlando Middle Schools:
2008 Grade 8 State Average: 50%
Avalon-  55%
Corner Lake-  57%
Discovery-  59%
Legacy-  40%

East Orlando High Schools:
2008 Grade 10 State Average: 53%
Timber Creek-  62%
University-  55%

Kids Fishing Contest at Lake Eola Downtown Orlando

 

Contest Open to Kids Ages 4 to 15
Two (2) Age Divisions: 4 thru 9, and 10 thr 15 ~ Prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners per age division.
All kids who catch a fish win a prize!

$2.00 Donation per Child
All proceeds to benefit the Parramore Kidz Zone

Registration: Today, Sunday June 8th – 10:00am to 5:00pm
(You must be registered in order to participate)
Fishing Time:  Today, Sunday June 8th –  10:00am to 7:00pm

Bring your own fishing rod and bait!

Regal Cinemas Waterford Lakes Free Summer Movies

Waterford Lakes Regal Theatres presents the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!
Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

07/01/2008-07/02/2008
Doogal (The Magic Roundabout) (G)
The Last Mimzy (PG)

07/08/2008-07/09/2008
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium (G)
Firehouse Dog (PG)

07/15/2008-07/16/2008
Mr. Bean’s Holiday (G)
Happy Feet (PG)

07/22/2008-07/23/2008
Arctic Tale (G)
Night At The Museum (PG)

07/29/2008-07/30/2008
Everyone’s Hero (G)
Evan Almighty (PG)

08/05/2008-08/06/2008
Charlotte’s Web (G)
Shrek The Third (PG)

Orange County Sheriff’s Property Crime Prevention Tips

Although East Orlando is a wonderful place to live, just as any other area, we are not without our share of crime. Below are a few useful tips provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Crime Prevention Unit:

Lock all doors and windows while home or away. Use good quality deadbolt locks on all exterior doors and easy to install auxiliary locks on windows.

Trim shrubbery below window level and clear of entrances. Do not give burglars a place to hide.

Lights at night are essential to your personal safety as well as that of your property.

Do not leave items of value in unattended vehicles. Vehicles are safest stored in a garage. If that isn’t possible, park in a well-lighted area and use an alarm.

Keep fence gates closed and locked.

Record the make, model and serial number of all home electronics and appliances.

Take color photographs of jewelry, antiques and collectibles. A home video is a good record of your valuables too.

Know who is coming into your home. Control the access by persons not well known to you.

Suspicious persons or activities at your neighbors house? Report it to the OCSO non-emergency number, 407- 737- 2400, immediately. You could be witnessing a crime in progress.

While out of town, make your house look occupied. Put lights and radios on timers. Stop mail and newspaper delivery. Have your lawn mowed. Leave a key and alarm codes with a trusted friend or neighbor who can make checks of your home.

 

 

Sector 2 (Eastside)

DFC Richard Negron
10244 E. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, Florida 32817
407.249.4508

BB&T Bank in Waterford Lakes

Looking for a new bank close to home? I have experienced great customer service with BB&T Waterford Lakes and recommend them to anyone considering switching banks.

Join BB&T for their Anniversary Celebration. Enjoy lite refreshments and a chance to win prizes as you play “balloon pop”.

The festivities take place tomorrow, Friday, June 6th from 11am to 3pm.
BB&T Waterford Lakes is located at the corner of Lake Underhill and Alafaya Trail.

Mad Science Summer Day Camp

Mad Science Camp will be held at East Orlando’s Stone Lakes Elementary School this summer from June 23rd- July 25th. This year, the camp features such programs as: Nasa, Moving with Science, Secret Agent Camp, and In the Garden Camp.

Join their online community and you could win a FREE summer camp scholarship for your child. Sign up for the monthly newsletter at: www.madscience.org/centralflorida and enter 09107 for the secret code.
Happy camping!

 

Wake Up and Smell the Coff- Smoke!

Two brush fires in East Orlando kept firefighters busy in our area yesterday. The first occurred in the woods along Innovation Way and was not a threat to any homes. The second occurred across from Waterford Lakes Town Center. Although this fire did burn near homes, none were in danger from the flames.

 

Florida Parents Not Doing Their Job

Each year, more Florida children are becoming overweight. Parents are not encouraging their children away from the computers and t.v., so the state has stepped in to see that public schools help do the parents’ job for them.

Elementary and middle schools are now required to have P.E. classes for a continuous 30 minutes per school day.

Class schedules will have to be reorganized and we will see cuts in the Fine Arts and/or Core Subject areas.

I understand that fitness is very important, but do we really need to cut computer lab or reading time for something that could easily be done before or after school? If the government wants to impose, maybe instead of taking time away from children’s education, the state should mandate a continuous 30 minute health class 5x per week for parents. What are your views?